Contractor License from Texas to Florida: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) ↗
A contractor license transfers from Texas to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your Texas license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. FS 489.115(3) grants certification by endorsement to an applicant who holds a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license OR who passed a substantially-equivalent national/regional/state exam. Florida accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Examination in lieu of the CILB general/building trade exam, and the Electrical Contractors Licensing Board accepts the NASCLA electrical exam.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Florida does not have a trade agreement covering Texas for the selected trade, so this move runs on Florida's case-by-case endorsement process. If you do commercial general-building work, check whether Florida accepts the NASCLA exam — passing it once can replace the trade exam here and in about fourteen other states. Electricians should check Florida's NERA status.
What changes, Texas → Florida
| Texas (current) | Florida (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $30–$115 (Fees differ by agency and trade: TDLR journeyman electrician $30 and master electrician $45; TSBPE reciprocal license verification $40 non-refundable, plus the IdentoGO fingerprint fee; TDLR ACR out-of-state application $115. There is no state general-contractor license fee because Texas does not license general contractors.) | Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure |
| Processing time | No single figure applies. TSBPE states a reciprocal plumbing license arrives by US mail within 30 days of the completed online application and payment; TDLR publishes no processing time for electrician or ACR reciprocity. | Not stated on retrievable pages |
| Licensing authority | Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, air conditioning and refrigeration) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (plumbers); no state general-contractor license | Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Florida sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Florida's current requirements on the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current out-of-state license issued under criteria substantially equivalent to Florida's, or pass a substantially-equivalent exam (NASCLA accepted).
- Pass the Florida Business and Finance (law) examination.
- Meet CILB experience, financial-responsibility/credit, and insurance requirements (FS 489.111/489.115).
- Pay the fees (Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure) and allow Not stated on retrievable pages.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida accept a Texas contractor license?
A contractor license transfers from Texas to Florida by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB), verify your Texas license, and meet Florida's endorsement requirements. FS 489.115(3) grants certification by endorsement to an applicant who holds a substantially-equivalent out-of-state license OR who passed a substantially-equivalent national/regional/state exam. Florida accepts the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building Examination in lieu of the CILB general/building trade exam, and the Electrical Contractors Licensing Board accepts the NASCLA electrical exam.
What still applies even if reciprocity covers my trade?
Florida's business and law exam, financial statement, bond, and registration — reciprocity waives the trade exam only, not these.
What does the Texas-to-Florida move cost and how long does it take?
Application/endorsement fee set by DBPR rule; no single verified transfer figure; processing Not stated on retrievable pages.
Would the NASCLA exam help for this move?
If you do commercial general-building work, possibly — about 15 states accept the NASCLA Accredited Commercial General Building exam toward licensure. Check whether Florida is one on the Florida DBPR - Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) site.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- Florida Statutes 489.115 - Certification and registration; endorsement; reciprocity ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- NASCLA - States accepting the NASCLA Accredited Commercial GB Exam (Florida listed) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- TDLR — Transfer Your Out-of-State Electrician License to Texas (master and journeyman reciprocal states; $45/$30 fees; hour requirements) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Licensing Reciprocity for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Georgia and South Carolina license-to-class mapping) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TDLR — Out of State Applicants, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration ($115 fee; insurance minimums; exam may still be required) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TSBPE — Reciprocal License Verification Request (Louisiana and Arkansas only; $40 fee; IdentoGO fingerprints; per-state conditions) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- TSBPE — Reciprocal License Agreement with Louisiana (~30 days by mail) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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